Zoo Kills Healthy Giraffe, Feeds It To Lions

I know this wasn't in the United States, but that doesn't piss me off any less.  On Sunday, a Danish Zoo shot this poor little two year old giraffe, dissected it and fed it to the lions at the zoo in front of children.  Why?  Was Marius sick?  Close to dying already? No.  Marius was a perfectly healthy, vibrant giraffe.

Worse yet?  20,000 people signed a petition to save his life but the zoo went through with it's plan.  They say it's because it was required to kill him in order to prevent inbreeding within the zoo population and Marius "surplus stock."  That was supposedly the recommendation from the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA).  So to prevent giraffe incest they anesthetized him, shot him with a bolt-action-rifle and killed him instantly before dissecting him, showing the autopsy to spectators and then feeding the remains to the lions.  The zoo's scientific director has gotten death threats over the decision but told reporters "We know we are doing the right thing.  The many reactions don't change our attitude to what we do.  It's very important to us that we take responsibility throughout.  We need to have as healthy a stock as possible so we avoid inbreeding."

A couple other zoos offered to take Marius in but they wouldn't go for it because those zoos weren't members of EAZA.  The one that was already had Marius's brother so they couldn't take him.  A private individual's offer of $680,000 for the giraffe was also turned down.

Sad.  This didn't have to happen.  RIP Marius :(